News archive (2015 - 10)

On December 22 the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania approved draft resolution establishing threshold numbers for military personnel Lithuania can deploy to international military operations in 2016-2017. In comparison with 2015, the common threshold number of Lithuanian allowed to be deployed to international operations will be cut from 265 to 130.

On October 29, Thursday, Lieutenant Colonel Tomáš Říman was accredited as the new Defence Attaché of the Czech Republic to Lithuania at a ceremony at the Ministry of National Defence. He will take over from Colonel Zdenĕk Postulka accredited as Defence Attaché to Lithuania in June 2014.

Having received two new governmental tenders from the United States and Poland, the Ministry of National Defence decided to carry out additional analysis and addressed prior suppliers to provide more detail on their tenders.

“Conducting analysis of new tenders will take extra time so we have postponed taking the final decision on the procurement of infantry fighting vehicles till late November. By that time we expect to have received additional data from the supplier who had applied earlier, which will let us complete an appropriate evaluation of both, governmental and business tenders,” Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas says.

Defence Policy Director of the Ministry of National Defence Dr Vaidotas Urbelis underscored at the European Union Defence Policy Directors’ meeting in Brussels on October 27 that the Eastern Partnership Technical Assistance Trust Fund (EPTATF) initiated by Lithuania was successfully functioning. “Georgia, Moldova and other countries are successfully using financial resources of the fund for their preparation to contribute to European Union-led operations,” V.Urbelis underlined at the meeting. The Lithuanian representative invited all EU countries to contribute to the fund and to step up the assistance to the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, particularly for Ukraine, despite the challenges in the south.

On October 28 Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas met with new Ambassador of Hungary in Lithuania HE Zoltan Jancsi and thanked for Hungary’s significant contribution to the assurance measures in the region.

“Hungary was the first European NATO ally to deploy rotational forces to Lithuania. This is one of the most distinct sighs of Alliance solidarity. We appreciate that very much. We invite Hungary to deploy rotating forces to Lithuania once again in 201,6 Minister J.Olekas said at the meeting.

On October 26-27 Vice Minister of National Defence Marijus Velička conducted a visit in Tbilisi (Georgia) and attended the Georgian Defence and Security Conference. Vice Minister also met with representatives of the Ministries of Defence of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Mine counter-measures vessel of the Lithuanian Navy LNS Skalvis (M53) is taking part in manoeuvres as part of NATO’s Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean from October 22.

The Lithuanian warship assigned to the Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) is taking part in naval mine detection and neutralisation operations in the Mediterranean off the coast of Spain. This is the first-ever deployment of a Lithuanian ship to an exercise in the Mediterranean.

On October 23 leadership of the Ministries of Defence and the Armed Forces of Belgium, Lithuania and Luxembourg discussed relevant issues of NATO and the European Union and prospects of bilateral cooperation at a meeting at the Ministry of National Defence. Delegations led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius, Vice Minister of National Defence Antanas Valys and Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas met with the guests.

New shift of the rotational U.S. forces in the Baltic States is coming to Lithuania today to begin training with Lithuania’s military. Soldiers with the 3rd Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army, are bringing M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks, Bradley armoured vehicles, and other heavy and logistical military materiel. A company-sized division with support units will be deployed in Lithuania, the total of approx. 70 vehicles, including 5 M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks and 13 Bradley armoured vehicles.